Mariano Rivera Highlights

"Even the free-spending New York Yankees managed to land a spot on our bargain (relief pitchers) list.

• That’s because closer Mariano Rivera, who finished fifth in American League Cy Young Award voting,

• struck out a staggering 13 batters for each walk

and converted 39 out of 40 save opportunities last season, perhaps the finest in his Hall of Fame-worthy career. His performance vaulted him to seventh in our ranking, notwithstanding his $15 million salary."...

• "Baseball's Best Relief Pitchers for the Buck," by Peter J. Schwartz, 4/22/09, photo from Forbes.com website

Labels: Bargain relief pitchers

Rivera pitches April 22, 2009 at Yankee Stadium v Oakland in the 9th inning of what became a 14 inning game finally won by Melky Cabrera's home run. getty photo

April 19, 2009 game v Indians, 7-3. getty photos

• "He has pitched 117.1 innings in the postseason, when he is 8-1 with 34 saves and a 0.77 ERA. He has spent 12 seasons as a Yankees closer and only once (2007) has his ERA crept above 3.00. Eight times, it's been below 2.00 --

• that's more sub-2.00 seasons than
  
• Dennis Eckersley, Bruce Sutter, Lee Smith and Trevor Hoffman combined.

" Schoenfeld, ESPN.com, "40 for Cooperstown," 1/20/09

Top: Mo, Jeter, Cano after 6-5 win over Indians, bottom two after Mo achieves final strike out v Indians. photos by Getty.

• P.S. Mo's final pitch was called a strike, though Neil Best (and the batter) thought it was a ball. A commenter, James K. cleared the matter up by citing Pitch f/x:

• Final score, 4-3 Yankees. ap photo
  

• Below, Cano's throw far right but still charged a hit.

• Top, Posada and Rivera after 4/10/09 Kansas City Royals home opener.
• photos by getty
  

• 

March 31, 2009, ap photos